Re: Smog Inspections

[Simon Favre <simon@domain.elided>]

This could get pretty grim. If Georgia follows the lead set by California,
what you have is an un-smoggable car. There is absolutely no chance a car
with Webers can be made to pass standards set for a 1986 car that came with
electronic fuel injection, smog pump, catalyst, etc.etc.etc. Putting a cat
on a car with Webers is a sure recipe for fried cat. Assuming they start
with a visual inspection like in California, they'll never even get to
sniffing your tailpipe. One look under the hood and you flunk. No US spec
1986 Alfa came with Webers.

You should find out exactly what standards, visual and exhaust gas your
car is expected to pass. If it's as bad as I think it is, my advice is to
either sell the car out of state somewhere they have no smog inspections,
or sell it to an SCCA racer for an IT project.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. If you really want to keep this car,
the Webers may have to go. You'll have to put back EVERYTHING that came
off of it when the Webers were installed to pass a rigorous smog test.

There are various quasi-legal and patently illegal games you could play,
but I'd advise against that. It's just not worth the trouble/risk/cost.

Stan wrote:

>So in Columbus Georgia there is serious talk about Smog testing in a few 
>months.
>I have an 86 spider with a 77 motor and trans., with webers.  I am using 77 
>exhaust, so no  cad-converter.  I have put a great deal of $ in the car and I 
>looks and runs wonderfully.
>Question:  Is there any way that a carbed engine can pass smog inspection.  I 
>have nothing on the engine except original 86 blow-by container.  No smog 
>pump.  
>I still have the 86 exhaust system with cad-converter from front to back in 
>storage.  Would it help to put this on before the inspection?  Anything else 
>I can do, or add to the car to help it?  Plugs? Type of Gas? Additives?
>Any help would be appreciated.

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